Whiffletree.



N0. 824,000. n PATBNTED JUNE 19,` 1000. P.BL0'NDBLL.

WHIFFLETRBE.

APPLICATION FILED 001229. 1004.

oEEioE.

PETER BLONDEEL, lOE TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, vAssi-savoia To THE BLONDELL `STEEL ooMfEANx OE BUFFALO, NEW YORK', A CGR- Apliieation filedombefzafleor smaila. 230,592.

'To` all whom it concern/'.3

Be itknown lthat I, PETER BLONDEL@ a citizen of the United States ,-residingat Tena-- wanda, inthe county of Erie and State. offNew York, have inventedcertain Inewa'nd usefull -Improvementsin Whiiiietree's, of which thev following is a specification.

, ylnventlonirel'ates to impro,venien'ts 1n whiffletrees and ,its Aprim-'ary object, isto pro-- 'vide al deviceof thischaracter which-Lis made Other 4objects are -to provide "a Kmetal bar.

tapering from the center thereof toward both endsandhaving lateral flanges gradually reduced in thickness k:from the center toward each end, which flanges are connected K`by a Web of equal width lthroughout"its'length to4 provide opposite groovesfto provide hooks,v

Whose free `end cooperate with the end extensions of the device to prevent the trace-couplingsfrom becoming accidentally disconnected, and to so shape the hooks that they must be swung to such positions with. reference to the end extensions that the trace-couplings may be detached.

The invention consists in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawin s, Figure 1 is a plan view of a complete whietree embod g my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged p an viewof one end thereof, the coupling-hook being in position to allow the trace-coupling to be moved toward the free end of thesame. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the free end of the hook bearing against the end extension to completely lock the trace-coupling. "Fig, 4 is a transverse section on line fz/ y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line z z, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a pers' ective view of one end of the device with t e couplinghoolr and clip omitted. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of one ofthe coupling-hooks.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts in the several figures.

The numeral 10 designates the whiliietree bar or body, whichis constructed of metal.

' --ends is caused 's r.lhis bar is widestat the center'and tapers toward both ends, it consisting of opposite yflanges 11, connected by a web 12 to -form'an I-bar. The grooves on-oppo'sitesides ofthe bar arey ofequal widththroughout their length, land 'the taperin of 'thebar toward lopposite y the `gradual reduction -in th'e thickness off'the flanges, which provides "for strength where most needed-and'makes a neat and light device. Ving the thickness of the flanges a tapered lbody is obtained Without tapering the web y'againstwhichthe strain of traction is exerted,

By gradually reducwhile the central portion of the body,-through `whi`chthe pivot-pin passes, is greatly strengthlened by the'i'n'creased thickness of theiianges, thus providing' a whiffletree ofgre at strength ata considerable reduction in cost, dueto the .Saving of'material-in the manufacture ofthe device. One of the flanges of the bar (the sions 13, and to strengthen these extensions the web 12 of the bar is continued at opposite ends in a narrow tapering portion 14 tov the extremities of said extensions. Midlength the web 12 is provided with a bolt-hole 15, whereby the device may be attached to a vehicle, as is customary.

To each end of the bar or body I secure a clip 16 by means of rivets 17, passing through a ertures 18 in the clip and apertures 19 in t e ends of the body. Said clips are each formed ofa st rap of metal bent to fit the I- bar, as-shown in Fig. 4, and having the ends thereof terminating in forwardly-proj ecting ears 20. Secured to each clip between the ears thereof is a coupling-hook 21, having an E eye 22, which is held between the ears-20 of the clip by a pivot-bolt 23, passing through said eye and registering bolt-holes 24 in the ears, which gives the coupling-hooks the necessary'pivotal movement. From the eyes 22 each hook is directed forward, as at 25, thence curved upon itself to form the bight 26 ofthe hook, thence curved slightly outward, as at 27, to form a space between the same and the lock extensions of the bar, and nally curving inward in rear of said extensions, as at 28, and terminating in a forwardly and inwardly directed toe 29, adapted to come in contact with the lock extensions of the bar when the hook oscillates on its IOO pivot, which it does in the sudden starting or stopping of the vehicle or under irregular strain, thus preventing accidental disconnection of the traces 30 from the hooks.

When disconnecting the traces, the movement of the same toward the free ends of the hooks tends to swing the latter against the ends of the body portion, as shown in Fig. 2, and particularly so when the trace fits snugly on the hooks. This provides the necessary space to clear the lock extensions, so as to permit the trace to be brought against the toe 29, after which a slight forward pull of the hooks will throw the free end of the latter away Jfrom the bar suiiiciently to allow the removal of the trace Jfrom the hook.

Although I have shown my invention constructed of a bar whose cross-section is that of an I-beam, I desire my patent to cover bars of different cross-sections so long as they comewthin the terms of the claims, which are not intended as limiting my invention to a bar whose cross-section is that oi an I-bearn unless specifically so stated therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A whilietree formed of metal and consisting of a bar having longitudinal ianges connected by a web of equal width throughout its length, one cf-said anges being gradualy reduced in thickness toward opposite en s.

2. A Whifletree formed of metal and consisting of a bar having tapering longitudinal iianges connected by an intermediate web of equal width throughout its length.

3. A whiiiietree formed of' metal and comprising a bar tapering toward opposite ends and whose cross-section is in the 'form of an I-beani, the longitudinal i'langes of the bar being gradually reduced toward opposite ends.

4. A whiiiletree formed of metal and consisting of longitudinal flanges and a web connecting said ilanges, one of said ilanges being longer than the other to form end extensions for cooperation with suitable coupling-hooks.

5. A Whiiiletree whose cross-section is that of an I-beam, and a clip at each end of the bar iitting around the Ilanges of the same and having a pair of forwardly-extending ears for the reception of suitable couplinghooks.

6. A whiiiietree consisting of a bar having opposite longitudinal ilanges and a web connecting said iianges, one of said langes being longer than the other to form end extensions and the web having tapering continuations at opposite ends to strengthen said end extensions.

In testimony whereof I have allxed my signature in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

PETER BLONDELL.

Witnesses 1 EMIL NEUHART, MAY SEWERT. 

